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Lagaan - Once Upon a Time in India

Lagaan - Once Upon a Time in India (2001)

tomatometer

95

Average Rating: 7.9/10
Reviews Counted: 59
Fresh: 56 | Rotten: 3

Lagaan is lavish, rousing entertainment in the old-fashioned tradition of Hollywood musicals.

100

Average Rating: 7.9/10
Critic Reviews: 19
Fresh: 19 | Rotten: 0

Lagaan is lavish, rousing entertainment in the old-fashioned tradition of Hollywood musicals.

audience

90

liked it
Average Rating: 4.2/5
User Ratings: 18,664

My Rating

Movie Info

One of the most expensive films ever to come out of Bollywood, Lagaan tells the tale of the Indian village Champaner, beset by drought and British colonialism in the year 1893. Without a drop of rain in months, the worried villagers of Champaner decide to ask the local authorities for a temporary repeal of their taxes -- the hated lagaan. Led by the heroic Bhuvan (Indian superstar Aamir Khan) they bring their plight to the military governor, Captain Russell (Paul Blackthorne). But the sadistic

Jan 22, 2002

B4U Entertainment

All Critics (60) | Top Critics (19) | Fresh (61) | Rotten (3) | DVD (15)

An involving, easily digestible hunk of pure entertainment that could be the trigger for Bollywood's long-awaited crossover to non-ethnic markets.

July 24, 2008 Full Review Source: Variety | Comment
Variety
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Few recent American musicals are this fluid or engaging.

March 26, 2007 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | Comment
Chicago Reader
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After having seen this Cinemascope extravaganza in a theater, on DVD and video, I still think the big screen experience is worth it.

July 20, 2002 Full Review Source: Chicago Tribune | Comment
Chicago Tribune
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The most deliriously entertaining movie of the summer.

July 19, 2002 Full Review Source: Sacramento Bee | Comment
Sacramento Bee
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An enormously entertaining movie, like nothing we've ever seen before, and yet completely familiar.

June 7, 2002 Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times | Comment
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic IconTop Critic

[I]t is long, but it never sags.

June 3, 2002 Full Review Source: Ebert & Roeper | Comment
Ebert & Roeper
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Will be the film all others in Bollywood are judged against, in terms of both creativity and success.

August 3, 2008 Full Review Source: Film4 | Comment

With an equally stunning soundtrack, this rollicking yarn is a must for all film lovers.

December 30, 2006 Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | Comment
Empire Magazine

The film's got a big scope and a big heart, even taking time to decry class, social, and racial discrimination.

July 22, 2004 Full Review Source: Window to the Movies | Comment
Window to the Movies

A great big Bollywood musical, complete with song and dance and doomed love triangles and elegantly photographed men playing cricket. And it's terrific fun, in a way that only great big musical fantasies can be.

December 31, 2003 Full Review Source: Seattle Times | Comment
Seattle Times

Sports fans will dig this film, and everybody else will at least enjoy it. It's worth renting.

February 25, 2003 Full Review Source: Needcoffee.com | Comment
Needcoffee.com

A great introduction to the joys of Indian popular cinema.

January 21, 2003 Full Review Source: Film Threat | Comment
Film Threat

This is a lavish production that will remain a favourite for years to come.

October 30, 2002 Full Review Source: ViewLondon | Comment
ViewLondon

If you're in the mood for a Bollywood film, here's one for you.

October 21, 2002 Full Review Source: San Diego Metropolitan | Comment
San Diego Metropolitan

A skillfully made, good-natured movie.

September 18, 2002 Full Review Source: EricDSnider.com | Comment
EricDSnider.com

A good example of the 'masala' type of Indian filmmaking, where politics, romance, class consciousness and long musical numbers are stirred together in an entertaining stew.

September 13, 2002 Full Review Source: Charlotte Observer | Comment
Charlotte Observer

So fascinating, you may not notice how much time has passed when the credits finally roll.

September 13, 2002 Full Review Source: Arizona Daily Star | Comment
Arizona Daily Star

There's no denying that when this film is good, it's very good.

August 2, 2002 Full Review Source: Deseret News, Salt Lake City | Comment
Deseret News, Salt Lake City

Even during the climactic hourlong cricket match, boredom never takes hold.

July 26, 2002 Full Review Source: Oregonian | Comment
Oregonian

It works its magic with such exuberance and passion that the film's length becomes a part of its fun.

July 19, 2002 Full Review Source: L.A. Weekly | Comment
L.A. Weekly
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Lagaan - Once Upon a Time in India

For a movie which is SOOO GOOOD and beautifuly made - it will make you ignore the length as you will be immersed in this Bollywood epic. Aamir Kahn is one of Bollywoods' favourite sons as he stars and produces this epic - which stands as one of the best Bollywood movies to date.Set in the 1800's, in the midst of

July 28, 2006
kpn666
Khris N

Super Reviewer

Moulin Rouge ripped this movie off. Wasn't bad, I suppose, but I admit I wasn't paying much attention to it.

March 10, 2008
puffchunk
Curtis Lilly

Super Reviewer

    1. Captain Andrew Russell: Eat the meat, your highness.
    – Submitted by Haroon M (9 months ago)

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Foreign Titles

  • Lagaan - Es war einmal in Indien (DE)
  • Lagaan (UK)
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